Moving on from the Past

(or in other words… Don’t Waste That GOLDEN Pain!)

By Zenja Glass, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Scripture Reading

• Isaiah 54:17 KJV “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”
• Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
• Isaiah 45:3 NIV “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
• Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
• Job 23:10 KJV “But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

I refuse to waste my pain. It must be turned into gold. I refuse to allow it to be cheapened and sold at bargain prices. I must put in the necessary work and allow it to be refined in the fire and come forth as pure gold!

It took me many years to appreciate the strange favor sent from God because it did not come wrapped in pretty bows; it came wrapped in my pain and suffering. I recall as a child: we moved 22 times in one year because my mother didn’t have any money and was running from abusive relationships. I recall all the years of practically living in the hospital with my young son for most of his life until he recently died at the age of 23 after a failed bone marrow transplant. I recall years of living in a difficult marriage and financial strains to the point where I could barely breathe because my heart was filled with loneliness, sorrows, and painful memories that I refused to let go. I was caged and didn’t even know it!

I not only refused to let go of my pain; I felt I had a right to hold onto it because somebody owed me an explanation as to why my life had to be so difficult. Somebody owed me an apology for the tough seasons no one else seemed to be going through year after year. I was angry! Hurt! Confused! And most of all, tired!

I had to figure out how to ease my pain. So I started secretly gambling in casinos and engaging in fantasies to escape from my hurts and finally enjoy some moments in life. I had no idea I was embracing counterfeit gods who always fed me false promises and led me to more disappointments.

There had to be a better way to live. I couldn’t keep holding on to hurts, sins, and painful memories that kept me chained to my past.

So, I decided to do what I felt was a last-ditch effort. I decided to put pressure on God’s integrity and see if He would do what He said He would do if I sought Him with all my heart.

I knew He could make a way out of no way, but I just wasn’t sure if He would do it for me. Can anyone relate to that?

I didn’t know it was possible to “rejoice always, pray continually, [and] give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV) when my circumstances said otherwise. I didn’t think it was possible to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) when I was too weak to pray. I didn’t know His “strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). I didn’t know my enemies couldn’t triumph over me and though I had painful memories, “no weapon forged against us shall be able to prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV).

Those were my thoughts as I sat in silence before God, crying out to Him night after night in my closet… in my secret place. I searched for Him as for hidden treasures and laid all my broken pieces on the altar as I surrendered and placed my pain in His hands.

By the pure grace of God, He began to show me that I had to be “transformed by the renewing of [my] mind” (Romans 12:2) and let go of the past by fixing my gaze on Him. After many years of sitting in silence in my secret place with God, He completely changed my life by turning my pain into purpose so that others could be inspired to grow from dark places and seek His presence. God has greatly moved in my life to share my transformative journey all around the world via podcast and social media to “proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and bestow on them a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:1-3).

Let us never forget, our pain can be turned into pure gold if we are willing to be refined by the fires! We must learn the art of letting go of what we see on the surface, so that we can dig deeper and look at it again… through the eyes of God!

I am reminded of Isaiah 43:16-19 NIV: “This is what the Lord says, he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Questions for Reflection

1. Are there any areas of my life that have kept me chained to my past hurts?
2.  What bible verse(s) will I write on the tablet of my heart to be reminded of His faithfulness when I am tempted to hold on to painful memories?
3.  Am I holding on to any counterfeit gods to comfort me and ease my pain? If so, what commitment will I make to surrender to God?
4.  How can my pain be turned into GOLD so that I can lift God and help others in this world?

About the Author

Zenja Glass has been a disciple for nearly 36 years. She is married with four adult children. She is the author of “necessary.” a transformative book that has helped people grow from dark places all around the world. Her motivational podcast “Unlocking Greatness Podcast with Zenja Glass” has nearly a million social media subscribers worldwide. She is a business owner and mentor who strives to help others draw nearer to God as they move forth in life and pursue their God-given talents. To learn more, visit: ZenjaGlass.com